HAVERFORD, Pa. — Haverford dropped a hard-fought Centennial Conference contest to Washington College, 65-58, in overtime on Wednesday afternoon. The Fords fell to 9-9 overall and 1-7 in conference play, while the Shorewomen improved to 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the Centennial. Haverford turned in a strong defensive performance with seven steals and four blocks, but Washington College converted 17 Haverford turnovers into 17 points and pulled away in the extra period.
Caroline Orza led the Fords with 22 points, connecting on three three-pointers and going 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Audrey Jakway recorded a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Brianna Feifer added 10 points, three assists, and three blocks in a well-rounded effort. Shae Mercer finished with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a pair of threes.
Washington College was led by Kaitlyn Boggs, who posted 24 points and 12 rebounds, along with three steals and two blocks. Abby Meredith added 15 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line, and Peyton Berger chipped in 14 points.
Haverford opened the game with strong defensive energy and an early offensive spark, as Audrey Jakway scored the Fords' first basket on a layup. Washington College responded with a quick run behind Kaitlyn Boggs and Peyton Berger to take an early lead, but Haverford settled in midway through the quarter. Caroline Orza connected on a three-pointer to put the Fords up 12-11, and the Fords seized momentum late. Jakway capped the opening period with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, giving Haverford a 17-13 advantage after one.
The second quarter featured tight play and frequent lead changes. Washington College pulled even early on a layup by Emma Robinson, but Haverford answered with baskets from Jakway and Brianna Feifer to maintain a slim edge. Orza knocked down a key three-pointer with 1:40 remaining to reclaim the lead for the hosts, as the Fords carried a narrow 28-27 advantage into halftime.
Haverford extended its lead early in the third quarter with a quick 3-0 jaunt but Washington College stayed within striking distance. Peyton Berger hit a three-pointer midway through the period to cut the margin to one, before Orza and Shae Mercer answered with timely baskets to push the Fords back in front. Jakway added another layup late in the quarter, and Haverford clung to a 38-37 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
The fourth quarter remained tightly contested, with Washington College briefly pulling ahead on a three-pointer from Abby Meredith and a fast-break layup by Berger. Haverford responded behind Mercer, who hit a three and later finished at the rim to keep the game close, with Haverford back within two at 49-47 with 2:14 to go. With the Shorewomen holding a one-point lead late, Feifer calmly stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws with 1:25 remaining to tie the game at 49-49. Both teams forced turnovers and came up empty on late possessions, and a final Washington College three-pointer attempt went fruitless at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra session, Washington College took control early, using offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities to build separation. Boggs scored inside off an offensive rebound, and the Shorewomen followed with a series of made free throws to extend the lead. Orza connected on a late three-pointer to pull Haverford closer, but Washington College closed the period by going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, outscoring the Fords 16-9 in overtime to secure the Centennial Conference victory.
Women's Basketball will have a midweek bye before returning to action on Saturday, January 31, when the Fords travel to Baltimore, Maryland, for a challenging road test against No. 5 Johns Hopkins inside Goldfarb Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
